I have a hard time taking the creation narrative in Genesis literally, (who is really getting down with talking snakes?) but it speaks an infinite truth even when taken (I believe it was intended) as a metaphor. Humanity wants to believe that humanity evolves and progresses, but the story of the Fall speaks otherwise. If anything, humanity has been continually devolving and falling further away from the heart and will of God since the Fall, and if anyone need be convinced of that, just watch the evening news.

The Genesis creation narrative is counter-cultural. It says (my paraphrase): God made the heavens and the earth, and it was good. (see Genesis 1-2)

Then it goes on in Genesis 3 to add that we humans, in our disobedience to God and His goodness, screwed it all up.

God made creation perfect, but we couldn’t leave it well enough alone. We have to have what we’re told we can’t have, and that is the Fall in a nutshell. We don’t want to listen to God, we want to be God. We all know what happens when a mother of a toddler or preschooler decides to make cookies or cakes. When he was toddler-to-preschool age my son couldn’t keep his hands off the freshly frosted Christmas cookies, or Dad’s birthday cake, or the Thanksgiving pumpkin pie even though there were Pop Tarts or cheese crackers or other snackies that were OK to nibble on readily available to him. The special pie or cake just tasted better. We have to have what we want now, and consequences be damned.

There’s something inherent in human nature (Catholics will call that “original sin”) that insists we cannot resist the forbidden fruit. Even if it is better if we leave it alone. Even if partaking of it leads to the death of us.

The reality is that everyone has that addiction to forbidden fruit. It’s called sin. Sin’s not a very popular concept today. The message coming from most pulpits today comes across more like the old Coca-Cola commercial from the 1970’s. Let’s all hold hands and sing “Kumbaya” (or “I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke“) while the world goes to hell in a hand basket. Let’s all put up a pretty, moral front and try to earn God’s love and approval- and miss the boat entirely.

It’s not necessarily a bad message, but it’s not the whole message, and it’s not the complete message coming from Scripture. Flowers and kisses and butterflies and singing pretty songs are all lovely, but how do you deal with the two kids ripping each other’s faces off as they’re fighting over a toy? There is a reason why God gave humans rules- mostly to keep them from hurting themselves and others.

The Lutheran theological take on that is that there is both Law (the Bad News that we can’t come close to being able to follow God’s rules) and Gospel (the Good News- that God made a Provision to cover for our failed nature) all throughout the Scriptures.

Even though I’m not a Calvinist, I can agree with John Calvin 100% on one of the petals of his TULIP. Human beings are Totally Depraved. Anyone who doubts this may observe human depravity in its basest forms all around us- a group of toddlers grabbing everything in sight while screaming, “MINE!” or a group of teenage girls gossiping about and backstabbing the girls in the “out” group.

Human beings are inherently self-serving. Many years ago, I had a debate with a psychology professor who contended that there is no such thing as true altruism. I wanted to believe there was. I wanted to believe that humans are inherently good and kind. At first, as I was a young college student and more than a bit naïve, I was shocked at the suggestion that all human behavior is inspired by satisfying a human need. But as I’ve grown older and had the opportunity to observe and interact with fellow humans, I can see exactly where he was coming from- especially when I examine my own heart. If there’s kindness or goodness to be found in me, that’s the work of the Holy Spirit- NOT me.

I can also understand why younger people have a hard time seeing how being involved in a church is relevant if it’s just a big version of the Coke commercial to them. There’s plenty of places to get warm fuzzies and play nicey-nice and sing happy songs together. It’s a little harder to find the Jesus Who wept with His friends when He found out Lazarus was dead. It’s a little harder to find the Jesus Who says to the woman about to be stoned for adultery, “I forgive you, go and sin no more.”

The big question is, (and probably the big barrier that keeps many people from pursuing God and taking on a life of faith,) why do you need a Savior if you don’t know from what you are being saved from? In Scripture we learn not only that human beings are Totally Depraved right out of the box, but that there’s not thing one we can do to change our nature or to abide by God’s Laws. That’s what Jesus came to be- the Perfect Sacrifice to cover for humanity’s egregious and constant sin- and that is the Gospel, the good news that in Christ God wipes our slates clean.

“All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned every one to his own way. And the Lord has laid on Him (Jesus) the iniquity of us all.”- Isaiah 53:6

The Bad News: We are all Totally Depraved sinners, incapable of making ourselves right with God.

The Good News: Jesus took the punishment and paid the price for our sins.

I'm simply a real person trying to live a real life and be faithful to God. As far as my theology goes, I am a confessional Lutheran. As far as soteriology (the business of the means of salvation) goes, I am a Molinist. The purpose of this blog is to examine Scripture, and share a few life lessons along the way.

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